Women Legal Resource Centre (WORLEC) has stressed the importance of reviewing the 2019 Women’s Manifesto in light of recent changes and forthcoming elections.
WORLEC Programmes Manager, Chimwemwe Chimasula, made the remarks in Blantyre where over 50 representatives of women from the Southern region have gathered for a two-day conference to review the manifesto.
“To ensure the manifesto remains relevant and effective, a review is imperative,” Chimasula stressed.
Carol Mvalo, a Board member for the NGO Gender Coordination Network, noted that the needs of women and girls in Malawi have evolved since the manifesto’s inception.
“While we’ve seen significant progress in women acquiring leadership positions, natural disasters like floods and droughts have exacerbated the challenges faced by women and girls,” Mvalo said.
UN Women Representative, Fatima Muhammad, commended the efforts made during the review meetings, highlighting that women themselves are driving the review process.
The manifesto, developed in 2019, outlines the concerns, needs, and aspirations of women in Malawi.
Similar meetings have also been held in the North and Central regions of Malawi as part of a nationwide effort to review and update the Women’s Manifesto.
By Mercy Zamawa
